Can't-leave-it-alone-Toffee

This week we come to the end of Yule - the Scottish Daft Days - on Twelve Night, Uphalieday in Scotland, 6th January, which is a reminder of a once popular forfeit game the 'Twelve Days of Yule'. This forfeit game was played in a semi-circle and a rhyme was spoken by each person in turn and if they made a mistake a forfeit was paid. The words were :-

The king sent his lady on the first Yule day,
A papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away.

The king sent his lady on the second Yule day,
Three partriks, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away.

The king sent his lady on the third Yule day,
Three plovers, three partriks, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away.

The king sent his lady on the fourth Yule day,
A goose that was gray,
Three plovers, three partriks, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away.

The king sent his lady on the fifth Yule day,
Three starlings, a goose that was gray,
Three plovers, three partriks, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away.

The king sent his lady on the sixth Yule day,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was gray,
Three plovers, three partriks, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away.

The king sent his lady on the seventh Yule day.
A bull that was brown, three goldspinks,
Three starlings, a goose that was gray,
Three plovers, three partriks, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away.

The king sent to his lady on the eighth Yule day,
Three ducks a merry laying, a bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was gray,
Three plovers, three partriks, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away.

The king sent his lady on the ninth Yule day,
Three swans a merry swimming,
Three ducks a merry laying, a bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings,
A goose that was gray,
Three plovers, three partriks, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away.

The king sent his lady on the tenth Yule day'
An Arabian baboon, three swans a merry swimming,
Three ducks a merry laying, a bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings,
A goose that was gray,
Three plovers, three partriks, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away.

The king sent his lady on the eleventh Yule day,
Three hinds a merry hunting, an Arabian baboon.
Three swans a merry swimming,
Three ducks a merry laying, a bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was gray,
Three plovers, three partriks, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away.

The king sent his lady on the twelfth Yule day,
Three maids a merry dancing, three hinds a merry hunting,
An Arabian baboon, three swans a merry swimming,
Three ducks a merry laying, a bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was gray,
Three plovers, three partriks, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away.

The king sent his lady on the thirteenth Yule day,
Three stalks o' merry corn, three maids a merry dancing,
An Arabian baboon, three swans a merry swimming,
Three ducks a merry laying, a bull that was brown,
Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was gray,
Three plovers, three partriks, a papingo-aye;
Wha learns my carol and carries it away.

Anyone taking part in such a game deserves a real treat and what better treat than Can't-leave-it-alone-Toffee, which can be enjoyed by all those with a sweet-tooth.

Can't-leave-it-alone-Toffee

Ingredients : 1 large tin condensed milk; 1 tablespoon syrup; 1 tablespoon sugar; 2 oz (50 g) butter or margarine

Melt butter and add remainder of ingredients. Bring to the boil, and boil for 20-30 minutes. Mixture must be stirred all the time. Pour into a butter greased tin.